Thailand’s healthcare technology landscape is rapidly evolving as new cannabis regulations reshape opportunities for startups and investors. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), in partnership with the SME Council and leading health tech firms, is pioneering a digital transformation with a centralized platform for medical cannabis control.
Key Regulatory Changes
DTAM has rolled out the Controlled Herb (Cannabis) Regulation B.E. 2568 (2025), strictly limiting cannabis use to five medical conditions: insomnia, chronic pain, migraine, Parkinson’s disease, and loss of appetite. Patients require a 30-day prescription from one of six designated practitioner groups, including modern and traditional Thai doctors, applied Thai practitioners, Chinese medicine doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and registered folk healers.
Licensed dispensaries must meet rigid supply chain requirements — sourcing exclusively from certified farms, maintaining meticulous inventory and usage logs (Phor Tor 27 and 28), and submitting monthly online reports. Commercial advertising, online sales, and vending machines are explicitly prohibited, further tightening the regulatory environment.
Startup and Investor Implications
This regulation signals a market pivot toward compliance-driven technology. The CannaMed Connect portal, developed with partners like Inet Co. and iSiam, is set to become the digital backbone for prescription management, distribution tracking, and regulatory reporting. Startups specializing in secure healthcare data, telemedicine, supply chain transparency, and compliance tools can expect demand for innovative solutions.
Investors and entrepreneurs have a unique opportunity to collaborate with medical practitioners, certified farms, and government agencies. Early-stage health tech firms, particularly those with expertise in blockchain-based inventory management, telehealth interfaces, and digital prescription systems, are well-positioned to thrive within this regulated niche.
The New Compliance Ecosystem
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Over 3,600 practitioners are now certified to prescribe cannabis through the DTAM platform.
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Cannabis-related startups must navigate stringent licensing and operational controls, emphasizing traceability, accountability, and patient safety.
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Interoperability with central government databases is becoming mandatory, reducing prescription duplication and reinforcing oversight.
Forward Outlook
Thailand’s medical cannabis sector is shifting from a frontier market to a highly controlled space. For startups and investors, the path forward demands a proactive approach to compliance, strategic partnerships, and a focus on digital health innovation. As DTAM’s telemedicine vision unfolds, new business models centered around regulated access and secure data management are set to emerge — presenting both challenges and high-impact opportunities for those ready to lead in this new era.
